Foto: realmadrid.com
The combined value of the 30 most expensive soccer clubs in the world reached $87 billion. The average valuation of one club rose to $2.9 billion: this is 21% more than a year earlier.
Despite the sporting setbacks of recent seasons, Real Madrid’s revenues continue to grow. In the 2024/25 season, the club’s revenue totaled $1.27 billion – up 12% from a year earlier. This is a record for soccer clubs and higher than the NFL Dallas Cowboys’ revenue for 2024 ($1.23 billion).
The second place in the ranking goes to FC Barcelona, valued at about $7.5 billion. The club became the only one in soccer whose annual revenue exceeded $1 billion (excluding transfers).
The English Premier League dominates the top-30 with 11 clubs. Then come MLS (7 clubs), Italian Serie A (4 clubs), German Bundesliga (3 clubs), as well as one representative from Ligue 1 and Portuguese league.
The overall market dynamics shows an increase in investor interest. The average value of clubs in the ranking has grown to almost $3 billion, and the segment of European soccer itself remains one of the most actively growing in terms of capitalization.
The report notes that differences between European soccer and North American leagues in valuations persist. For comparison, the Dallas Cowboys club is valued at about $13 billion.
Analysts attribute this to differences in business models: the lack of a salary ceiling in soccer, the system of departure and promotion, and weaker growth in media rights compared to the United States. At the same time, European clubs face revenue constraints and high cost of the roster.
At the same time, the influence of US investors is growing. According to Forbes, they control a significant proportion of clubs in England and Italy, and are also increasing their presence in Spain following deals in recent years.
Separately, there is a growing interest in infrastructure: major clubs in Europe, including Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, are implementing or planning large-scale stadium renovations, which could further increase revenues in the coming years.
Forbes ‘ Top 10 Most Expensive Football Clubs in the World:
- Real Madrid – $9.5 billion
- FC Barcelona – $7.5 bln
- Manchester United – about $6 bln
- Liverpool FC – about $5.7 bln
- Manchester City – about $5.5 bln
- Bayern Munich – about $5.2 billion
- Paris Saint-Germain – about $4.6 billion
- Chelsea FC – about $4.5 billion
- Arsenal FC – about $4.3 billion
- Tottenham Hotspur – about $4 billion
